The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23
JUDGE HILTON'S WINE CELLAR.
The Fine Liquors and Choice Cigars Stored il
the Basement of Stewards Big Building.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK. Jan. 22-The police captain din
ner is the greatest dinner of the season. The
food may not be as rich nor the wines as expens-
i've as those which were served at Sir Morton
Petos banquet some years ago, but the company
is of SURPRISING excellence Nearly every prom
inent citizen is a guest. A stranger in the city
can make more interesting acduaintances in four
hours atone of these dinners than ne could make
in four years skirmishing in the city. Set
speeches are usually made by the best of orators.
Conkling. Evarts, Choate Depew, Brady, Coch-
and Fellows among those who have
illumed the police captains table with their elo
quence. Among the guests at Superintendent
Murray< table at the recent dinner was aplump,
rudy faced gentleman, with sparkling eyes and
white hair He was very social and agreeable,
and seemed to know verybody. from the fresh
est alderman to the leading justice of the Su-
preme Court. He was my Wis avis at the table.
On seeing me strike a match preparatory to
lighting one Of the three excellent cigars tied
with blue ribbon and placed before each invited
guest, he said: "Wait Don't light 1t. I'll give
you one which l fancy you will enjoy. The to-
bacco is grown and the cigars are made for my
own comfort and that OF my friends Be SO good
as to try this one"
He passed me a hand made cigar of the most
delicious fragrance. 1t was neither too green
nor too dry; neither too dark nor too light As
inhaled its flavor by funneling the smoke through
my nostrils, he kept his bright eyes upon me and
regarded my features with evident qualification.
He did not ask how I liked it. My face would
have answered the question before it could have
been put But he seemed to enjoy my enjoy
ment of the cigar fully as much as l enjoyed the
tobacco.
The genial gentleman was ex-Judge Henry
Hilton tina lifelong friend of A. T. Stewart, the
\ A.
smoking another of his inimitable cigars, when
its aroma attracted the attention of well-known
man about-town. "Ah," he said II copgratu-
| late you. You have been In the society of Judge
| Hilton can detect the flavor of one of his
| cigars block away 1t is exquisite"
The conversation was prolonged until some in
| teresting information was cleaned. You were
| probably never In the Judges wine cellar" my
| but from what hear it must be something re-
| markable. It is beneath Stewards great retail
| store, Broadway and Tenth street. Denuing
runs it now, and the Judge is silent partner.
| Sam Barlow was in the store not long ago, where
| he met the Judge.
| "Did you ever see my wine cellarp' he asked.
| ~ never had the pleasure" Mr.. Barlow re-
piled 'Im sure it would interest me-"
"Come with me-" said the Judge.
"Sam followed in some amazement They
| descended the stairways and went down
| three or four stories underground. The floor of
| the cellar was bed Of pure white sand, left
| there Dy nature when Manhattan Island was
formed. Barlow gazed about him in wonder.
There were wines enough there to stock the
| greatest Wholesale house in New York They
included the best and rarest vintages-old port.
George Nv sherries fine Madeira and Malaga,
and, above all, an almost priceless collection OF
blue seal royal Johannisberger Much of it had
been bought at auction sales of the contents OF
celers Of well-known lovers of wine. Nor were
the wines the only attraction of the cellar Boxes
of fragrant cigars were piled here and there like
| temples in some ancient city.
"'This white sand, said the Judge, has re
markable preservative qualities No better spot
for wine cellar can be found
"Sam listened to the Judges flow of language
IS though anticipating the flow of something
eise As the Judge, however, evinced no dispo
sition to open bottle, Mr.. Barlow said:
"sWell, Judge, sincerely congratulate you
I hope you'll live to enjoy every bottle of win,
| now in the cellar
"'Tnat can never be- the Judge replied will
charming frankness and CHEEKY twinkle of tn
eye for I am going to send some of it to you.'
Sam looked pleased and they reelimbed tn
stairs. When Barlow reached home that night
he found fifty bottles of the rarest wines await
inc him, including six bottles of the famous blu
seal royal Johannisberger. originally taken fror
Prince Metternichs own cellar ZIsKA.